Best Canadian Soccer Players of All Time
Ever wondered about the top Canadian football players in history? Well, this is the right place to be, since we are going to name these great players who made it into our legendary best Canadian soccer players of all time!
Being among the bests is what every one of us tries to achieve, no matter what our field is. The soccer world is no different at all, with many football players trying to be on top of the table, not only in their country but also in the world.
But who are the greatest football players in
Canadaand what makes them different? Prepare yourself for a ride in time, to get to know these outstanding players, and stay tuned.
Top Canadian Soccer Players of All Time
Canada is mostly known for Ice Hockey when it comes to sports, but even yet the country has given birth to some of the most memorable names in the soccer industry. Without further ado, let’s jump into the list and introduce the best Canadian soccer players of all time.
20. Randy Samuel
Position:
Defender
Date of Birth:
23 December 1963
Origin:
Trinidad-born Canadian
As one of
the top Canadian soccer players ever
, Randy Samuel was the one to participate in 82 international caps alone! An honor, which was later on taken by Paul Stalteri in 2010.
He joined many different clubs throughout his career all as a defender, such as FC Volendam, PSV Eindhoven, and Vancouver 86ers.
As for his international career, the successful player took part in an overall 82 games for Canada's national team, winning the 1985 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 1990 North American Nations Cup.
19. Jonathan David
Position:
Forward
Date of Birth:
14 January 2000
Origin:
American-Canadian
The next name on our list of the
best Canadian soccer players of all time
is Jonathan David who plays as a forward for French Ligue 1 club
Lille OSCand the Canada national team. So far he has made 40 national team appearances, scoring 24 times, making his team debut on September 9, 2018, when Canada went against US Virgin Islands, starting and netting a brace in an 8–0 victory.
David began playing organized soccer at the age of ten and only one year later joined Ottawa Gloucester SC, where he would play for the club's Hornets team. Later in 2016, he joined Ottawa Internationals SC, Gent, and eventually, in August 2020 he joined Ligue 1 side Lille on a five-year contract, until 2025.
During the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup David scored a hat-trick in a 7–0 win in Canada's final group game against Cuba and set the record for most Canada senior international goals in a single year with eight goals.
The young player has achieved a lot so far, winning the CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Boot in 2019, being named the 2019 Canadian Men's Player of the Year, and winning the Jean-Claude Bouvy Trophy in 2019–20.
18. Jason de Vos
Position:
Center-back
Date of Birth:
January 2, 1974
Origin:
Canadian
As the next on our list of the top Canadian football players of all time, we want to talk about Jason de Vos.
Commonly known as Jason de Vos, Jason Richard de Vos is one of the most famous international footballers in Canada.
Starting his footballing career in 1990, he joined his hometown club, the London Lasers, at the age of 15.
He later joined Kitchener Kickers in 1991, moving back to the reformed London Lasers in 1992. Montreal Impact, Darlington, Dundee United, and Wigan Athletic were his next destinations. Eventually, the great Canadian player joined
Ipswich Town in 2004, where he kicked the ball for the next four years and before his retirement in 2008.
At the International level, De Vos represented Canada first in 1997 in a 1–0 friendly home loss to Iran.
De Vos was named a tournament all-star for both the 2000 and 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments, in which Canada was placed first and third respectively.
As a number of his individual achievements we can point out the CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI in 2000 and 2002, the CONCACAF Gold Cup Fair Play Award in 2000, being named the Canadian Player of the Year in 2002, and many more.
17. Samuel Piette
Position:
Defensive Midfielder
Date of Birth:
12 November 1994
Origin:
Canadian
The young Canadian player started playing football when he was only four years old. In 2013, he joined Fortuna Düsseldorf II, joining the first team one year later in 2014. His next destinations were
Fortuna Düsseldorf, Deportivo La Coruña B, Racing de Ferrol on loan, Izarra, and Montreal Impact where he is kicking the ball since 2017.
Being a part of Canada's U17 and the U19 soccer team on the international scale, Piette made his debut in 2012, coming on as an 85th-minute substitute for Julian De Guzman in a 0–0 draw with the United States at BMO Field. This cap made Piette the third-youngest player to ever suit up for the Canadian senior side.
So far, he has been one of the
best Canadian soccer players ever
, having still a long way to go.
16. Lucas Cavallini
Position:
Forward
Date of Birth:
December 28, 1992
Origin:
Canadian
Currently a Tijuana player, Lucas Cavallini started playing football back in 2010 for Nacional youth club.
Known as one of the best Canadian players of all time, the Toronto-born forward made his national team debut for Canada back on August 15, 2012, in their match versus Trinidad and Tobago.
Why do we say he is one of the bests? Here is your answer! Interestingly, Cavallini's first goals for the team were a brace that he scored in an 8–0 victory over the U.S. Virgin Islands in a CONCACAF Nations League qualifier back in September 2018.
He won the 2022 Canadian Championship with V
ancouver Whitecaps FC, just before leaving the team to join his new team, Tijuana in 2023.
Let’s move forward to the next on our list of
best Canadian soccer players of all time
.
15. Pedro Pacheco
Position:
Defensive midfielder
Date of Birth:
27 June 1984
Origin:
Portuguese
Being born to Portuguese parents in Portugal, Pedro Pacheco moved to Canada with his family at a young age, which is the reason for him to be known as one of the B
est Canadian players ever
.
He started his senior career in the regional leagues and soon moved to one of the biggest clubs in the territory, C.D. Santa Clara. Not much after, he joined Lusitania and later Operario. In 2007, he moved back to Santa Clara where he kicked the ball for the next 2 years. In 2009, he joined Nacional, but soon later, he once more left the club for
Santa Clara, where the manager, Bruno Moura, appointed him as the team captain.
After nine years, in 2019, the 38-year-old left and joined Sporting Clube Ideal of the Portuguese third tier. However, that was not the end of the story for him, as he left the club in 2020 to join Rabo de Peixe for the next year, before eventually joining Micaelense in 2021, where he still kicks the ball.
14. Jonathan Osorio
Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: June 12, 1992
Origin: Canadian
Known as one of
the best Canadian soccer players of all time
, Jonathan currently kicks the ball for
Toronto FCand the Canadian national team.
Osorio began playing soccer with the Brampton Youth Soccer at the age of 10. He started his professional career with SC Toronto back in 2012. One year later, he joined Toronto FC where he still is playing a key role for the team.
On an international scale, he made his debut for Canada at the 2011 CONCACAF under-20 championship in Guatemala. Later in 2013, he was called up for the Canadian senior team for a friendly against Costa Rica, where they lost the match 1–0 against the team.
13. Dwayne De Rosario
Position:
forward/attacking midfield
Date of Birth:
15 May 1978
Origin:
Canadian
The 44-year-old football player spent most of his career as the attacking midfielder for Toronto in MLS.
Dwayne also managed to collect many honors and awards for himself as the great clutch Finisher that he is, ever since his professional debut with the Toronto Lynx of the A-league at the age of 18.
The Canadian also was the recipient of the MLS Golden Boot after managing 16 goals and 12 assists back in 2011.
Additionally, he participated in Canada’s CONCACAF Gold Cup Win back in 2000.
12. Paul Stalteri
Position:
Right Back
Date of Birth:
18 October 1977
Origin:
Canadian
The Former soccer football played most of his life for German clubs and that resulted in winning the League and Cup Double for Werder Berman alone.
The retired soccer star mostly played as a defender and midfielder for many European Clubs such as
Tottenham, Werner Bremen,
Fulham, and Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Attending 84 Canada International Caps, he is one of the most notable names on our list up to now.
11. Junior Hoilett
Position:
Left Winger
Date of Birth:
06 June 1990
Origin:
Canadian
Born in 1990, this Canadian Player is one of the youngest names mentioned among the
Top Canadian Soccer players ever
.
The Left Winger has joined clubs such as Blackboned Rovers, Queens Park Rangers, and Cardiff City, currently kicking the ball for Reading since 2021. It is worth mentioning that he helped Cardiff City become the EFL Championship runner-up in 2017–18.
The young player has shown recognizable potential and has appeared in 53 matches for Canada's international team since 2015.
10. Craig Forrest
Position:
Goalkeeper
Date of Birth:
age 53 years
Origin:
Canadian
Next on our list of
the best Canadian soccer players of all time
, is actually a goalkeeper! Born in 1967, Forrest has been active from the ’80s all the way to the 2000s.
This Goalkeeper played his whole active years in English clubs such as Ipswich and west ham united.
In the late years of his career, Forrest, who is currently retired, helped Canada back in 2000 to win the CONCACAF Gold Cup after blocking two penalties.
That’s it for our Goalkeeper. Let’s go through the next names listed as top Canadian Footballers of all time.
9. Patrice Bernier
Position:
Midfielder
Date of Birth:
September 23, 1979
Origin:
Canadian
The retired Canadian soccer player is one of the best Canadian soccer players of all time with no doubt.
He started his professional career back in 2000 with Montreal Impact and continued his job with Moss FK, Tromsø, Kaiserslautern, FC Nordsjælland, Lyngby BK, going back to where he belonged at the end. He finally announced his retirement in 2017.
At the international level, he made his senior debut for Canada in 2003 in a friendly match against the Czech Republic and eventually finished his national duty after the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he captained the team.
It has to be mentioned that Bernier has won the Danish Cup with FC Nordsjaelland in 2009–10 and 2010–11. He has also won the 2013 and 2014 Canadian Championship with Montreal Impact.
8. Alex Bunbury
Position:
Striker
Date of Birth:
18 June 1967
Origin:
Canadian
Originally, from Plaisance, he is one of the most successful Canadian players on this list as he brilliantly scored 16 goals in 66 national appearances.
As for his club career, he started his professional career with Hamilton Steelers in 1987 and went on to score for many different clubs including Maritimo, Kansas City Wizards, and West Ham United.
Bunbury gained the title of the top foreign player of the year, playing for maritime Portugal back in 1994, also winning the 1993 and 1995 Canadian International Player of the Year awards.
7. Julian de Guzman
Position:
Right Back
Date of Birth:
25 October 1981
Origin:
Canadian
The next name on our list of
the best Canadian players of all time
is Julian de Guzman.
Being the first Canadian football player to join the Spanish La Liga, de Guzman started his playing career with 1. FC Saarbrücken second team in 2000 and continued to kick the ball for many clubs till 2016. It is worth mentioning that a year later he started his coaching career with Ottawa Fury, first as an assistant and then as a caretaker and a general manager.
6. Atiba Hutchinson
Position:
Midfielder
Date of Birth:
February 8, 1983
Origin:
Canadian
The next name on our list of
the greatest Canadian footballers of all time
is Atiba Hutchinson, who captains both Süper Lig club Beşiktaş and the Canada national team.
He started kicking the ball for York Region Shooters back in 2002 and continued kicking the ball for Toronto Lynx, Öster, Helsingborg, Copenhagen, PSV, and finally Beşiktaş, where he still kicks the ball today.
He made his senior debut for Canada on 18th January 2003 in a match against the United States and so far has made 103 appearances, scoring 9 times. Interestingly, Hutchinson has represented Canada in 12 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and four years of CONCACAF Gold Cups. In December 2010 Atiba was awarded the Canadian Men's Player of the Year, and also become the first Canadian to win the Danish Superliga Player of the year.
5. Scott Artfield
Position:
Central Midfield
Date of Birth:
01 November 1988
Origin:
Canadian
Coming to the top 5 on our list of top Canadian soccer players, here we have the current Rangers player, Scott Artfield. Starting his playing career at the age of 19, he first started playing for Falkirk, later joining Huddersfield Town,
Burnley, and eventually Rangers where he kicks the ball today.
The very successful player helped Burnley win the Football League Championship in 2015-16, also winning the 2020-21 Scottish Premiership and the 2021-22 Scottish Cup with Rangers.
At the international level, he made his national team debut against Mexico on March 25, 2016, and has so far appeared in 19 games, scoring 2 times.
4. Daniel Fernandes
Position:
Goalkeeper
Date of Birth:
September 25, 1983
Origin:
Canadian
Counting down, here is Daniel Márcio Fernandes, the fourth name on our list of the best Canadian soccer players ever. The professional footballer, who currently guards Gudja United net, started his senior career back in 2001 with Porto B. So far, he has kicked the ball for many other clubs including PAOK, Panthrakikos, San Antonio Scorpions, Rayo OKC, Lillestrøm, Farense, Tarxien Rainbows, and Birkirkara.
At the international level, Fernandes played a role for Canada at the under-20 level but then decided to play for the country of his father, Portugal.
He was first called up to the Portugal senior team in November 2006 as the third goalkeeper behind Ricardo and Quim. Doing his best, he finally was named in the 23-man squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup but did not play in the tournament in South Africa, making only two appearances for the team. Let’s move forward to the top three on our list of the best Canadian soccer players of all time.
3. Fernando Aguiar
Position:
Defensive midfielder
Date of Birth:
18 March 1972
Origin:
Portuguese
Commonly known as Fernando Aguiar, Fernando João Lobo Aguiar was born on 18 March 1972.
Possessing both Portuguese and Canadian citizenship, he grew up in Canada and started his professional career at Toronto Blizzard back in 1991. Up to 2014, when he announced his retirement from football, he kicked the ball for many different clubs including Maritimo, Nacional, Maia, Benfica, Gondomar, and Pedrouços.
On the other side, on an international scale, he has kicked the ball for Canada from 1995 to 1999, making his debut for the team in a match against Portugal in January 1995. His final international appearance was in a match against
Saudi Arabia, back in July 1999.
2. Owen Hargreaves
Position:
Midfielder
Date of Birth:
20 January 1981
Origin:
Canadian
The second name on our list of the best Canadian footballers of all time is Hargreaves, who faced an early retirement despite the successful career he had, due to his knee injury.
Yet he managed to prove himself a potential player in many notable clubs such as Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Manchester City, winning many titles to his name, including the Bundesliga, the Premier League, and also the 2007-08 UCL title, which he won during his time at Man United.
Unfortunately, he faced an early retirement despite his effort in 2012 due to the knee injury as we’ve mentioned formerly.
1. Alphonso Davies
Position:
Left Back / Winger
Date of Birth:
2 November 2000
Origin:
Canadian
Yes! Here’s a big surprise! A 22-year-old player is the first name in our article of the greatest Canadian football players of all time! Unbelievable! Huh?!
Already playing as the left-back for the one and only,
Bayern Munich, he has been a great help to the team, scoring 6 goals in his 104 appearances.
At the international level, he has kicked the ball for Canada in 39 matches so far, scoring 13 times. Having a long list of individual awards and titles to his name, he has won 4 Bundesliga titles, 2 DFB-Pokals, 3 DFL-Supercups, the 2019-20 UCL Cup, the 2020 UEFA Super Cup, and the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup, all with the Bavarians!
All it’s left to say is that it is guaranteed that we will hear a lot of his name in the future as he has proven the fact that he is a high-potential player and would be around for the years to come.
Who else do you think is missing in our list of
the best Canadian footballers of all time
? Let us know in the comment section below!
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